Door opener



NOV. 10, 1931. HUSTQN 1 1,831,117

DOOR OPENER Fi'led Au 27. 192

{a INVENTOR. JACK HUSTOM HIS JTTORA/E).

Patented Nov. 10, 1931 UNITED STATES ,PiA TTENT .mcx nus'roiv; or SAN rnnnorso camronnm DOOR OPENER Application filed August 27, 1929. Serial No. 388,720.

or the like by pressing said bumper against said bar, whereby the operator of a motor vehicle may open the doors of'and' enter a garage without leaving a vehicle.

The primary object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved garage door opener arranged to be opened by a pres sure of a motor vehicle bumper against said opener.

Another object is to provide a new and improved device of the character described having improved means for decreasing the liability of damage to a garage door by press- .ing an automobilebumper against the actuating means.

further object of the present invention is to provide improved means of the type set forth having few parts of simple and economic structure and a maximum efliciency.

The present invention consists inthe particular details of construction and arrangement of parts disclosed in the drawings forming a part of the present application wherein like characters of reference are used to designate similar partsthroughout the specificationand drawings and in which- Fig. 1 is a broken vertical. sectional view taken on line 1-1 of Fig.2 in the. direction indicated; Fig. 2 is a broken front elevation of a pair of garage doors disclosing my improved device applied thereto;

Fig. 3 is a broken elevation of the junction of the inside of the doors, disclosing the securing means; and

F ig. 4 is an enlarged detailed view of one type of normal door opening means.

Referring to the drawings, the numerals 1 and 2 are used to designate a pair of doors having the usual center batten 3 arranged on the free end of the door 1 against which the free end or edge of the door 2 closes. The doors 1 and 2 are provided with any suitable means for normally retaining said doors in more fully set forth.

an open position, such, for instance, actuated Fig. 4 of the drawings, or any other suitable door opening means.

The door 2 is provided on one side, preferably the inner side, with upper and lower spring actuated latches 1 and 5 engagingv suitablesockets 6 and 7 respectively, as disclosed in Figs. 1 and 30f the drawings whereby the door 2 may be held closed against the batten 3 of the door 1 and thereby retain both doors 1 and 2 in a closed position. The latches are connected by a suitable cord or cable8 which pass back of a pair of suitable pulleys 9 secured on the door "2 intermediate the latches 4 and 5 and over a pulley 10 mounted upon the inner end of an extension 11 of a spring bar .12 pivotally mounted as at 141 on the opposite or outerside'of the door 2, said extension 11 extending inwardly through an aperture 15 arranged between thepulleys 9 on the inner side of said door 2. A second spring bar 16 is arranged parallel with the bar 12 and near the adjacent edge of the door 1, thepurpose of which will hereinafter be In operation, the doors 1 and 2 ing means 18 by means of the latches 4; and 5, when it is desired to open the doors 1 and 2 to'permit passage of a vehicle, having the usual front bumper 17, without requiring the operator to leave said vehicle,

the said vehicle, not shown, ismoved toward the doors 1 and 2 until the said bumper .17

rests against the spring bars 12 and-16 and a slight pressure is applied to said bars 12 and 16 by moving said vehicle,-and the bumper thereon, toward said doors 1 and 2.

The pressure of the bumper 17 uponthe OFFICE as spring hinges 1 8 of the type disclosed in v being held 1 closedagainst the tension of the normal open- 1 connected bar 12 will cause the extension 11. thereofto move inwardly through the aperture 15,-and

the pulley 10 on said extension 11 will move outwardly or away from the pulleys 9 on the inner side of the door 2, as disclosed in dotted lines in Fig. 1 of the drawings, and produce a tensioiron the cord 8 which tension will disengage the latches 4 and 5 from their respective sockets 6 and "7 and thereby release the securingmean's and permit the normal open- '16 by the pressure of the bumper 17 thereagainst, so that an inexperienced or inexpert driver lacking a nicety of judgment and skill will not damage the doors by moving against them. A suitable detent 19 is mounted in connection with the lever latch 5 to engage and hold the latch bolt in releasing position and thereby prevent said bolt from dragging upon the floor as the door swings open.

After the vehicle, not shown, has passed through the opened doors 1 and 2, in leaving the garage, the same may be closed by moving the doors 1 and 2 against the tension of the opening means 18 until the latches i and 5 engage their respective sockets G and 7, the detent 19 being moved to release the latch bolt of the latch 5. The tension of the spring latches 4 and 5 should be sufficient to exert enough tension on the cord 8 to maintain the bar 12 in an extended or operative position as disclosed in full lines in Fig. 1 of the drawings, so that the opening device is again set and ready for the opening operation as above de cribed. 1 V

I am aware that the present state of the art discloses doors which may be opened by pressure upon a bar pivotally mounted upon or connected to said doors. therefore, I do not wish to claim such a combination broadly as my invention, but

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. A door operating mechanism comprising a pair of latches mounted adjacent opposite edges of a door and movable to secure the door in closed position; a flexible connection having its ends connected to the latches; a pair of pulleys mounted upon the door and engaging the flexible connection intermediate the latches; a lever pivoted at one end thereof upon the door and provided with a latch releasing arm intermediate its ends and extending through the door into engagement with the flexible connection at a point between the pulleys whereby pressure applied upon the lever operates to move the arm inwardly andactuate the flexible connection to release the latches.

2. A door operatlng mechanism comprising a pair of spring latches mounted upon opposite edges of a door to secure the door in closed posltion; a flexible connection having its ends connected to the latches; pulleys mounted upon the'door and engaging the flexibleconnection intermediate the latches;

and a resilient lever pivoted at one end upon the door upon the side opposite the latches and provided with an arm intermediate its ends and extending through an opening in the door into engagement with the flexible signature.

connection at a point between the pulleys whereby pivotal movement of the lever toward the door operates to move the flexible connection and release the latches, the resilience of said lever operatingto impart an initial impulse to the door in an opening direction.

3. A door operating mechanism comprising a pair of latches mounted adjacent opposite edges of a door and movable to secure the door in closed position; a flexible connection having its ends connected to the latches; a pair of pulleys mounted upon the door and engaging the flexible connection intermediate the latches; a lever pivoted at one end thereof upon the'door and provided witha latch releasing arm intermediate its ends and extending through the door into engagement with the flexible connection whereby pressure applied upon the lever operates to move the arm inwardly and actuate the flexible connection to release the latches; and a resilient extension formed upon the lever 'yieldable under an actuating pressure to absorb shock and to impart an initial opening impulse to the door when the latches are released.

i. A door operating mechanism comprising'a pair of spring latches mounted upon a door to normally secure the door in closed position; a flexible connection having its ends connected to the latches; pulleys mounted upon the door and engaging the flexible connection intermediate the latches; a resilient lever pivoted at one end upon the door upon the side opposite the latchesand provided with an arm intermediate its ends and extending through an opening in the door into engagement with the flexible connection at a point between the pulleys whereby pivotal Q operating to impart an initial impulse to the door'in an opening direction; and a spring detent mounted adjacent to the lower latch to engage and hold the same in releasing-position while the door is being-moved.

' In witness whereof, I hereunto set my 7 JACK HUSTON. i 

